CVE-2026-90126

Memory leak via unremoved clock provider

Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 17, 2026

A memory leak in Linux's PCF8563 RTC driver allows local users to consume kernel memory via repeated device unbinding. The pcf8563_clkout_register_clk() function registers a CLKOUT provider with of_clk_add_provider() without unregistering it, retaining a provider allocation and device-tree node reference after each unbind or module reload. Triggering requires administrative control over the relevant device lifecycle and an active CLKOUT provider; no crash or code execution is documented.

CVSS severity1.9
Low
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A memory leak in Linux's PCF8563 RTC driver allows local users to consume kernel memory via repeated device unbinding. The pcf8563_clkout_register_clk() function registers a CLKOUT provider with of_clk_add_provider() without unregistering it, retaining a provider allocation and device-tree node reference after each unbind or module reload. Triggering requires administrative control over the relevant device lifecycle and an active CLKOUT provider; no crash or code execution is documented.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-90126
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Updated
Sep 17, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.4
  2. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <08a59c28c2bdbcd655e99526c86a41dc83834283
  3. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <2b5622cf4ee218b6f98d31dbf3fbd44b9b6bd675
  4. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <30b7c63af50fe1464e7582a37de1ca4bd030ecc1
  5. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <36cb00c33bd83e7ce31b5a9f1f7c70db0cb7776c
  6. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <6218c0533a72235ec9c5f41b812c63d963bd4a3e
  7. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <7afb8db47c4f107bce89cfe5115fb31ba7c94665
  8. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <97edf3fd9a46ea89a167966991c0449cfa07b36f
  9. Affected versionversion=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <9c48a53685040bb0de45a640b34055cbbfc69d4f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.4; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <08a59c28c2bdbcd655e99526c86a41dc83834283; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <2b5622cf4ee218b6f98d31dbf3fbd44b9b6bd675; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <30b7c63af50fe1464e7582a37de1ca4bd030ecc1; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <36cb00c33bd83e7ce31b5a9f1f7c70db0cb7776c; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <6218c0533a72235ec9c5f41b812c63d963bd4a3e; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <7afb8db47c4f107bce89cfe5115fb31ba7c94665; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <97edf3fd9a46ea89a167966991c0449cfa07b36f; version=a39a6405d5f949bc651694028a55d74c514ef1f9 <9c48a53685040bb0de45a640b34055cbbfc69d4f

Published CVSS scores

1.9SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
1.9Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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